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Mineral Waters. 

A POEM. 



POEM, 



MINERAL WATERS 

OF 

BALLSTON AND SARATOGA, 

•WITTS 

NOTES 

IL1.USTRATIKG THB 

HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS 

AN-rv 

ADJACENT COUNTRY. 
SY REUBEN SEARS, A, M. 



BALLSTON SPA • 

:?CEI.ISH!1I5 BV THE ABTHORj 
J. COMSTOCK, PRIKTEE. 






Northern District of New-Youk, ss. 

j»**»*#** BE IT REMEMBERED, That oh 
* SEAL. * the twelfth day of March, in the forty- 
«««**♦*** thh'd yearoftlie Independence of the 
United States of America, Reuben Sears, of the 
said District, hath deposited in thisofSce, the title of 
a book, the right whereof he claims as Author and 
Proprietor, in the words following-, to wit : 

** A Poem, on the Mineral Waters of Ballston and 
Saratoga, with notes, illustrating the history of 
the Springs, and adjacent country. By Reuben 
Sears, A. M." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the 
United States, entitled, " An act for the encourage- 
ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of 
such copies, during the times therein mentioned :'* 
and also to an act, entitled ** An act, supplementary 
to an act, for the encouragement of learning, by se- 
curing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the 
authors and proprietors of sucli copies, during the 
times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits 
thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etch* 
j*ig historical and other prints." 

RICHARD R. LANSING, Clerk 
of the Northern JJietrict of Nevt-Tork, 



JV 



f 



PREFACE. 



Tilt thought Li^pperied to occur to the Author, 
« ievr months ago, that the Mtkeral Spri jtgs in 
the county of Saratoga, to highly celebrated, and 
commanding' so general a resort, -would furnish a 
^ood subject for a Poem, could justice be don« it 
in the execution. To such a task he was far from 
considering himself as adequate, yet felt strong"ly 
inclined to make the attempt. The result is the 
Poera now offered to the public ; the merit of 
which is submitted to the judgment of the reader. 
The historj' of such Springs, and of the region in 
^hich they are situated, is an object of rational cu- 
riosity, and therefore notes illustrating that sub- 
ject hare been added, partly original, ar»d y^artly 
extracted from the -vi-ritings of others. The author 
has thought proper, also, to annex a short poem or 
two on other subjects, "written, except a few alter- 
ations now made, many years ag-o, -^'hich be hope* 
viil be found not altogether unaccept^Ie. 



A 2 



TJSE 



MJ.VERAL WA'IERS 

OF 

BALLSTON AND SARATOGA. 



\jk9D of mj Mrtb ! wbere §f9t flb^e Tttal air 
Of beaven I drew, sum! first aaiae Q^mu%, 
eyes 

Bebeid tbe trorld't Csiif ffSLSJC ; vfaoce fiekS* 

and groves, 
le ckUdiaood aad ia /outiij taj feet hare trod; 
Tbj ztaiae b kjavi^ii abroiwdj *bd i?»«eetff 

j«ifi^d 
If kb beadtb and p\e^£U[f^, joy £JDd ^i^y <!*- 

ligbt 

Wbettee is Cbr Cuaae ? Tboi^li garato^^f 
Are wbitoi'4 villi die besef ^a»o£e a»t felt 



S THE MiKERAL WATERS OF 

That from the north, bore down t'enslavs 

the land; 
Yet this turns not on thee the eyes of al3. 
Others in this respect thy rivals ar«, 
Lexington, Monmouth, and of recent date, 
New.Orlcans' bloody field, and Baltimore. 
Thy fame is not from death and streaming 

blood, 
Like Waterloo, ivhere nought but carnage 

reigns, 
And thousands pil'd on thousands yield & 

fame, 
Stain'd \vith the widow's and the orphan's 

tears. 
For smiles not tears, for life not death, re- 

nown'd 
Aft thou, and to the joyous scene of health 
And pleasure draw'st the thronging mulli* 

tudes. 

What draws them here ? what but the pre- 
cious gift 
Of bounteous heaven, that in Ihis favor'd 
spot, 



Tine «ailsittc» ((iCiH:%a« aa4 clb€«r fm beaurr^ 



Tkj s|i9rr fiec iritfem Ikf rake, eii22 
Their cioBygeatoi^tfcycicrttoe^agji ah iw ijMi 
Jbi9Mfiocdi 






Wk»f« mmL kf wkax fmueta fatwi4^ titem 



nrtd 



iCr THE MINERAL. V/ATERS OF 

From what source proceetU the str^ugtJi^* 

ning iron, 
The salt cathartic, and each different liiml 
Of rich iDgredieBt coota^n'd therein. 

Skilful Geologists raay search the vale?. 
The stream?, and hills sarrounding, aiid dls° 

close 
The various strata, that compose the grosod,. 
The fine siiicious sand, and stiff blue clay, 
The schiat argilious, and the lime-stone rockj 
And whate'er else ma3'^ serve to forns a soil, 
Of such peeuiiar natiire, to produce 
Fountains of such unrival'd excellence. 

Such themes the muse must only hint, anti 

dwell 
On those obvious to seRse and popular. 
Hers it is not to penetrate the depths 
And secret mj'^steries of nature's works. 
She skims the surface, and delighted views 
The glorious workmanship, when brought t» 

light. 

Am if EUspcAded o'er eternal fire, 



IJALLSTON AND SARATOGA, 1 1 

From sight coacearu, these foun-tains boli 

end toss, 
In resiiess agitation, evermore^ 
V[} from the bottom comes the rushing gag, 
llast'ning from itsimprisou'd state to burst 
Into (he open regions of the air. 
ilence the -coiitlnual tossing of tlie founts; 
A lively spirit hejice through ev'ry part^ 
Fungeut and exhilarating is diffiis\L 

Bat soon the evanesicent spirit fiie?, 
if from the parent fount you separate 
A pction of the water, and expose 
To atmospheric air. The subtle gas 
<>uickly escapes, and [eaves a stagnant mas^ 
Vajwd, saliBe, antl loathsome lo the taste. 

Clear and transparent axe these precious 
founts, 
As purest water of the pebbled brook. 
'1^0 d^ii epao/de their chrystai clearness 
dime, 
Kcr fioating mote their purity impairs, 
Kot George's sacred lake, frequented €rst,(lj 
IJy siinerstilioa's childreaj to obtain 



12 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

For holy water its pellucid wave, 
Presents a fairer mirror to the eye. 

Clear as they are, thes« waters yet con- 
tain 
The elements of grosser substances, 
Held in solution by the powerful hand 
Of the carbonic gas. Here float unseen, 
As chymical analysis hath shown, 
Iron and magnesia, salt and lime; 
Which, with th' enliv'ning gas, the fluid give 
Virtues medicinal, removing oft 
Divers diseases, that infest the frame 
Of frail and mortal man. Redundant bile. 
And ev'ry gross secretion, that obstructs 
The nice form'd channels ©f the human 

frame. 
And choaks the streams of life, are hence 

expelled. 
The vital flood flows free, and quick, and 

pure; 
The languid nerves are strung with tension 

new; 
Disorder'd stomachs rectified, and health, 
Vigour, and sprightfulness are felt again. 



BALL5T0N AND SARATOGA. 13 

Come to these fountains then, ye sons of 

sloth ! 
Pamper'd with luxury, and bloated full 
With those gross humors, from which active 

toil 
And plainer fare preserve the lab'ring class. 
Who spurn the fell, inebriating bowl : 
Drink of thf se waters, and throw off the load. 
That bears on nature with oppressive weight, 
And for oonsuming fever food supplies. 

Children of languor and of feebleness ! 
With nerves unstrung and sinews all re- 
laxed, 
OFsluggish blood, and weak, inactive frame, 
Moving about in painful lassitude; 
Would yoa once more acquire that spright- 
ly vigor, 
That bounds delighted over hill and dale, 
Drink of these waters. Their enliv'ning gas 
Will urge tlie blood to swifter speed, and 

give 
The spirits an exhilarating flow. 
Of tonic power their iron firm will brace 
E 



» 



34 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

Each muscle, nerve, and sinew, and restore" 
To wonted energy your weaken'd frame. 

Yel who in crowded cities live im«iur'd, 
Midst dust, and smoke, and exhalations foul. 
From mingled masses of corruption drawn; 
Where nought but frost can purify the air. 
And template months alone can be enjoy'd; 
Now while the summer's heat oppressive 

reigns, 
Augmented by reflection, and th« breeze, 
Obstructed toy the close built town, fans not 
With undulations free your sultry dwellings, 
€ome to these rural seats, where the sweet 

air 
Of purest heaven you'll breathe, where ua- 

confin'd 
The cooling breezes play, and from th' ef- 
fects 
Of nerve relaxing heat these Springs supply 
A kind restorative, not known elsewhere. 

Yg children of the high ascending sun ! 
Who dwell contiguous to the torrid aoae? 



BALLSTON AND SARATOGA. 15 

Where the fierce orb, his northern (ropie 

gaining, 
Fours down in ra^^s direct, a flaming flood, 
Turning the fields to dust, and burning up 
The gay, green robe of nature; haste away 
From burning suns and arid fiehls, and come 
Where verdant groves and smillDg meads 

are seen. 
And fountains bubble with delight and joy. 

The call is heard. From ev'ry part ar= 
rive 
Th' afflicted children of disease and pain, 
To try the virtues of these healing founts. 
Nor this alone. The wealthy and the gay» 
Forth from the cities and from southern 

climes, 
Flock to these Springs, what time the glori- 
ous sun 
Keigns in full power upon his northero 

throne. 
Nought then is seen but crowded carriages, 
And thronging Visitants. Crowd succeeds 

crowd, 
In quick succession, like the restless waveso 



i 



16 THE MINER Ali WATER* 01* 

From Boston's eastern shore to Georgia's 

ciime 
Far distant in the south, and e'en the Isles 
Of western India, here the strangers come. 
The polish'd multitudes fill up and throng 
Our little towns, and o'er these rural scenes, 
Kplendor, and life, and gaiety diffuse. 

Hence in these vales, at places where the 

Springs(3) 
Break from the earth, two thriving Tillages 
Have risen, Ballston and Saratoga. 
Where not long since extensive woods prc- 

vail'd 
And dreary solitudes, by savage men 
inhabited alone and beasts of prey, 
Kow rise to view the seats of polish'd life; 
Well-peopled villages, in which are seen 
The neat, convenient dwelling, and the 

store 
Fiil'd with the products of far distant climes, 
The sacred spire ascending into heaven, 
That calls to prayer and praise a christian 

people, 



BALLSTON ANB SARATOGA. 17 

The shop mechanic, and the acbool-house, 

where. 
The little swarming tribes are duly taughfj 
The trav'iler's inn, in which, when faint 

and weary, 
Refreshment, rest, and comfort be may find ? 
Hotels of large extent, expressly form'd 
The vast concourse of strangers to receive, 
Commodious, pleasant, serv'd in highest 

styk. 
Where wealth and leisure fied a choice re- 
treat, 
And ffishion sports her gay, bewitching 
eharras. 

In times remote, these Springs weie doubt- 
less known, 

If not by civil, yet by savage man. 

When erst these regions nature's empire 
own'd, 

And forests dark o'erspread these cultur'd 
fields. 

The Indian wild, rude Dature's pupil, 
iaught(4) 

b2 



» 



18 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

Tbe healing powers of roots and herbs to 

know. 
Roaming these woods Irt quest of game or foe. 
Or plants medicinal, observ'd, I ween. 
These boiling fountains, curious to the eye, 
And of peculiar taste ; he drank, admir'd. 
And to others show'd the liquid treasure. 
One and another came and oft they drank, 
Till by repeated trials it was found 
These curious waters qualities possest. 
Of health restoring power. By degrees 
Their fame increased and spread thro' vari- 
ous tribes. 
Afflicted with disease the Indian then, 
Who'd tri'd in vain each healing root aad 

herb, 
Came to these Springs from distant wilds, 

perhaps, 
In quest of health. The worn down War- 
rior here 
Sought to renew his vigor. The huntsman 

too. 
Exhausted in the chase, bow'd down and 
dranji 



feALLSTON ANO SARATOGA. 19 

These waters, of cnliv'niug; powerjaiid found 
Kecruited strength and spirits, in those days. 
When 'mongst this simple race, was yet un- 
known 
That pois'nous liquor, so destructive since. 
XVarriors far fam'd and chiefs of high renown 
Amongst the native children of these woods, 
Here friendly rnet, it may be, long before 
Columbus and his crew iiad cross'd the main, 
From Europe's shores, and other people 

sought 
These vast and distant wilds, till then un- 
known. 

And long these inland regions were un- 
known. 
Save by their native, rude inhabitants, 
E'en after Europe's race had ascertain'd 
A new world lay beneath the setting sun. 
To climes far south, the first adveat'rers 

came, 
Regions of vast extent, where mountains 

rear'd 
Their cloud-clapp'd gummits, and the earth 
eoutain'd 



10 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

Rich mines of precious metals, to attract 
The never cloy'd cupidity of man. 

Other adventurers this northern world 
Descri'd,and on th'Atlantic coasts, at length, 
A few, weak, scattered settlements were 

made. 
Which by degrees increas'd and boundaries 

form'd 
These central regions round. St. Law- 
rence's g;ulph 
The sons of Gallia enter'd, in the North, 
And up that noble stream ascending form'd 
Their infant settlements ; and in the South* 
The Mississippi's fertile banks along. 
Planting another colony, again, 
Form'd the bold project to unite, ere long, 
In the great western Lakes th' extremes of 
both. 

The sous of Britain, on the eastern shore^ 
At I^ly mouth's rock and Boston's harbor 6xi 
Their pilgrim habitations, when they tied 
From persecution in their native land. 
And drawing nearer, Belgia's sons advanced 



BALL8T0N AKD SAUATOGA. 21 

Into the Hudson's mouth, and up the stream. 
To where Albania now her turrets rears. 
Here a small fort they built, and on the spot. 
Where New-York now in wealth and Bplen- 

43or stands, 
The grand emporium of this western world. 

Meanwhile the Savage tribes these re- 
gions held, 
Overspread by dark, tall woods, of vast ex- 
tent. 
Which wild beasts roam'd and with their 

bowlings fiU'd. 
By stream or lake their habitations fixing, 
These boundless wilds they wander'd o'er 

to find 
Or beast for food, or foe to glut their rage. 
From Hudson's stream and lakes Champlain 

and George,(5) 
To where Ontario rolls her sea-like waves, 
Five nations own'd, confed'rate, fierce and 

strong, 
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas call'd, 
Cayugas, Senecas, to whom were joinVI, 
la after times, the Tuscarora tribe. 



22 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

These with more northern tribes a con- 
test held, 
Bloody and fierce, as savage war? are wont, 
And of successful issue. HereHpon 
Canadian Frenchmen, envjing their suc- 
cess, 
Sought to subdue and also to seduce 
These firm and warlike tribes, but fail'd in 

both. 
Dire was the contest, with disasters filTd, 
That to the fearful brink of ruin brought 
The infant Colony. Forth from their woods, 
Numerous and fierce the Indians rush'd a- 

main, 
And man and child and woman ruthless slew. 
This Montreal ! thou canst witness. Thou 

didst feel(6) 
The fury of these tribes, with wrath inflam'd, 
And thirsting for revenge. On thee secure. 
Of such approach not dreaming, sudden burst 
A num'rous band, who terror and dismay, 
And carnage and destruction o'er thee 

spread. 
Dread was the stroke, repeated soon again. 



BAI.L3T0N AKD SARATOGA. 23 

And by incarsioos frequent follow'd up. 
The poor inhabitacts ia terror liY'd or died 

in pain ; 
Tbeiields untilTd or raveg'd nought prodac'd, 
And ghastlr famine through the prorince 

stalk'd, 
And olter ruia star'd them in the face. 
NonghtsarM tbee then o'erwhelmed Canada! 
Eat tby strong holds, which Indian skill and 

po^er, 
Unaided and alone, conld not reduce. 

While tiiiis inces^nt ^^ar they furiocs 

"^Ithijallia'a proTince, friendship's bright 
chain v 

"iibroken was preEerr'dj ibese tribes be- 
tween 
nd the Crst settlers of onr infant state, 
ft hile Belgiae rale prevaifd, or British swaj. 
E'en at their rery doora, up HodBO&B 
£tr€afl3.(S} 
Albany, these straogers settled down, 
-T. ad farther west, another Village builtj 



I 



24 TMK MINERAL WATERS OF 

Oo that fair stream, that bore the MohaTvks* 

name; 
Yet molestation none these lodiana gave, 
T>ut ever livM in ninity and peace ; 
Thoiigli French intriguers triM their ut- 
most skill 
To win them over to the side of France, 
And with a Itnv succ«eded, who exchang'd 
For eeats in Canada their former homes. 

But henCe imagine not that Indian wars 
Our aires had none, nor savage fury felt. 
Alas! the Muse can tell of horrors dread(9) 
On thee Schenectady! that sudden seiz'd, 
When French and Indians through thetrack- 

loss wilds. 
That lay between thee and Canadian towns* 
Stole unpercciv'd, mid winter's frost and 

SHOW, 

To thine unguarded walls. Ah ! hadst thou 

Known 
The corning of the foe, thou hadst been safe. 
The feeble band, exhausted with a march 



i . ' t: III J 'I i li- . I . : ■ ■ . . ' t I • '. 

■ l' 



i4i, 

IB, 



i 



26 THE MINERAL WATERS OP 

Carnage most horrible ensu'd, that spar'd 
Nor sex nor age. Devouring flames arose. 
Confusion reign'd. Blood flovv'd. The sav- 
age yell 
Mingled with death's deep groan, and cries 

that rose 
From terror and distraction. With ruthles» 

band, 
They pierc'd the Father's heart; dash'd out 

the brains 
Of helpless children; slaughter'd the Mother, 
And her infant threw the burning flames a- 

midst. 
Many fell dead, a few were captives made, 
Naked the rest fled trembling thro* the snow, 
And to Albania bore the horrid news. 

'Tween France and England, with their 
fierce allies, 

Wars frequent rpg'd. These tracts there- 
fore, that lay 

Their settlements between, were often trod 

By hostile feet, while to and fro through 
them 

Both parties march'd for purposes of war,- 



BALLETON AND SABATCGA. 2< 

And on each other brought distrew and ter- 
ror. 
Amid&t such direful sceces. Euror.eanf first 
Came to the knovJedge of Ihete Min'ral 

Springs. 
An lodian, it is said, Cof those no doubtflO) 
Whom French intrigues had from this coun- 
try drawn; 
In earlier wars, a sick French captain led, 
To these rare fountains, to regain bis health. 
Henee sprung their fame. Others thereafter 

heard 
Their being and their Tirtues. Others came, 
Though not in crowds nor frequent, to be- 
hold 
Tbete Fountains, and their healing vraten 
drink. 

At length to cultivation's povrer heg-din(l 1) 
The vvildernes^s to yield. Canadian realais 
^V rested from French had pass'd to British 

bands. 
And geitle peace her wings wav'd o'er these 

\kiids 
rfo b!oo*Jy once. The Colonies increased 



[ 



28 THE MllVEIlAL WATERS Of 

JBeijt forth their chihlren to CKploro new 

landS) 
And the dark, f.'o\vnin|]; wilderness convert 
To fair Jind IVuitfuI luiUls. Here eettlera 

came. 
These forests dark they enter'd and nssaird 
With strong hiborioiis hand. l>e(brc them 

fell 
The lofty trees; the thick entangled woodd 
Were clear'd awny; and cottages arose; 
And culturM fields, now here, now there, ap- 

pear'd. 
The settlements progressed; the lands im- 

prov'd ,• 
In friendship still remain'd the Indian tribes ; 
And fair and bright the opening prospect 

8eem''d. 
The first inhabitants these fountains knew 
And usM and for their virtues highly pri'/'d. 
And had not that dire scourge, that blasts 

so oft 
The hope of man, and fairest regions tarns 
To dreary desolation, hover'd o'er ; 



Hail pracf: r/j;»iril7i,jr»'(l iM;r r.w.'iy, fif>r fo wild 

war 
7 hf; »tr/#:ptr»t yi»;l<l<(} up; thf:'^,f; Hfjrin;". h.^i 

uoori 
firown info ;i''!f» ><)! uh^^ arirl «;i,lP<l frofn iitr 
for lit;all.h ami pUtaRurfr iirow<!« of vli-ifant-i. 

Hut, ;)|j ! Ihf; \](n<: of ^Hl^•, unbrf^k'tn [j^-nrc: 
.N'oty«f h^fi r.orrif:. ThO'.*: 'jijj<;f. il;! y^i., th<i».** 

Of ^hU'ly and joy, tlwit f'.inf.f: fi;i vrr \)t<:n 
Wara tihianl liir. 7'hf, :■',<:♦;('*', of (li>,r;f,rM 

ftown, 
Thfc Colonu-.f. /hmI I';)rf:nt. J^and hr:f r;f:*tri, 
Hpranj( up, and ripftn <1 inloop<;n w;jr; 
War fiill »jf foil and d«'jri;i<:r, civ^il war, 
In which on (liiVrtnt nUU:?, vn-.x*-. kifidrfti 

raniir d, 
Ar d not aioufr v/a;i f«;ar d a for^ip^n (>>**, 
But neaf6«t ntlghboM watch'd with j'^-ilotji 

}f#;rf; on thfrruli'; rrorjl.ir-r, the horf!*:r» pl;jf/'d 
C)fwid*; <:7.U:ni\\fi'ii woodM, our Hirf.H find ur'd 
Vfrxatiofju cru*^!, U.rror, and iVnUfX^.. 
c2 



I 



30 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

Kot French and Indians now, but Indians 

join'd 
With British soldiers,once protectors deerr«'t!, 
And neighbors turn'd from friends to deadly 

foes, 
Stealing thro' darksome woods and midnight 

shades, 
In evVy bosom anxious fears awoke. 

How sunk the heart of mother and of child! 
Wiien round was swift convey'd the tidings 

dread 
Of foe approaching near, and off was call'd 
Farther and husband to oppose in arras. 
What terror thrill'd the soul, when hear'd 

the news(12) 
Of Neighbors sudden seiz'd and captive led 
By savage foe, at night, or tory band ! 
An Infant then the poet sweetly slept, 
In pillow'd cradle, or maternal arras, 
Nor thought of war, nor dreamt of danger 

nigh; 
And such the fate of numbers,now that tread 
These peaceful fields : but ah ! our parents 

felt 



BALLSTON AND SARATOGA. Si 

The pangs of deep anxiety : oft they passVl 
The sleepless night, not knowing when or 

where 
Danger and death might come. Dark were 

those days, 
And little hope, at times, the patriot felt. 

What consternation through the country 

spread ! 
When hover'd o'er the army of Burgaoyne, 
Namerous and strong, and threat'ning to 

bear down 
All force that might oppose : a gen'ral panic 
Spread around, and deep despondency pre- 

vail'd; 
While now and then was hear'd a horrid tale 
Of savage cruelties, that thrill'd the soul. 
Of Parents, children scalp'd, and blooming 

youth, 
In female form, inhumanly destroy'd. 

Such was thy fate lamented Jaue ; who 
fell(13) 
By wild, ferocious hands, v/hen hope's sweet 
beams 



I 



32 THE MINERAL -VVATKRS Oy 

PlayM roumi tliinc heart, ami soon thou 

thought'st to see 
Thy tViend bolov'd, and join^^oiir plighted 

hands. 
But ah ! no touch oriiuiiian pity knew 
The Savage fell, uhose imirdVous weapon 

smote 
Thine haj>less head, and left thee on the 

ground, 
A mangled corse. Yet. not in vain thy 

death ; 
With other cruelties, it serv\l to rouse 
The dormant i^pirit of the land, and turn 
Their fiercest indignation 'gainst the foe. 

And now aro,us*d from ev'ry part pourM in 
The brave and hardy owners of the soil. 
Children, and wives, and friends, and sacred 

rights, 
By force of arms deternun'd to protect. 
The drooping spirits of the soldier lOse ; 
The army gathefd strength. And now 

drew on 
The grand, decisive conflict : now ap- 

proaeh'd, 



KAiJJi'tOii AND fcAJtlATOGA. lA 

(hi HBraUy/M^h Uaiiiii, th' opposing hoiit, 
J>>(;h (Aiit-t boldly fy-ciog ; Now Ihc'y joiri'd 
jrj hatl|«; i\*',T*M aruJ vaJiaDt i\ftfA% ^fttiunti'd. 
While wounded, ^ead aod «iyi«g »lfeMr'd the 

Ofic<; af-(j iij^ain they fought} until at la*t,n 4) 

Krittaitt'g proud boRt liuhmhU'A to our arrnis. 
'i'hfi joyful tidlogs through th^ couctrjr 

»;pr<iad!) 
And evVy heart exulted., ev'ry f^ye 
hparkled with llvfAitihiUjy^ awd on each fate*; 
Bo Jately w»d, the ernile of an'^nnn playd^ 

War*f toilf, distractioag, aad hiium%, at 

ieoglh, 
Had pas fi'd a vv s j . S a f; e t p e s^ce hfef ^i f: rj t J e 

reign 
Commeoc'd.afjd Jhrough th« laadtOtdfci o/iO^ 

more, 
Astd fjuiet dayf, and ajl the miid ^niTBu'dt 
01 civil life, preraild. Biifemer© /evired. 
Their rjivrzl arts MfechaLii<:» bmkiy ply'd. 
'rh<i Car met tbrugtblf piowgh»hare ia liie *oi!, 
-\ nd o'er his fertile iieids rieb Jxarre»t£ ¥i a?'d* 



34 THE MINERAL WATERS OF 

Commerce unfurl'd her sails, and gaily bore 
Her Tarious treasures o'er the swelling 

wave. 
European nations, plung'd in furious wars, 
OT long continuance, pour'd a stream of 

wealth. 
Constant and full, into the favor'd lap 
Of this fair spreading land. We rose at 

once. 
In splendor, wealth, and population grew 
Our towns along the coast, while far inland, 
The tide of Emigration onward roll'd. 

And now, through ev'ry part, was soon 

proclaim'd 
The virtues rare of these unrivall'd Springs. 
Biseases to remove and health regain, 
Or e*n their brisk, enliv'niug waters to par 

take 
For ])leasure's sake, th' inhabitants around 
Repair'd to them. Still more and more in- 

creas'd 
Their fame. From regions more and more 

remote, 
I'he votaries of health these waters sought. 



BALL8T0N AND SARA.TOGA. 35 

Irnbo3om'(l in the woods they found them 

first,(15) 
A little opening made, and houses built, 
Few, small, and rude, tbatshelteronlyserv'd 
And plainest fare to furnish for their Guests. 
Increasing still the crowd of Visitants, 
Riches and Enterprize here cast an eye, 
And neat, commodious buildings soon were 

rais*d. 
Of larger size, and serv'd in better style. 
Hotels of vast extent at length arose. 
In whose capacious bosoms were receiv'd. 
Of Guests the copious streams, that hither 

fiow'd 
From various regions. Villages sprang up, 
Flourishing, and large, enliven'd, and eu- 

rich'd. 
With annual crowds of polish'd Visitants. 

These vales, so lately wild, have thus be- 
come 
The gay resort of fashion and of wealth. 
Disease's hope, and leisure's sweet retreat. 
And such, no doubt, will efermore remain. 



1 



S3 THE MINERAL WATER?. 

Wbile these rich fountains boil, and meo 

delight, 
From crowded cilies and oppressive heat 
FIjing, to quaff the cool delicious draught, 
"Where smiling nature all around invites, 
And free and pure, ambrosial breezes play. 



NOTES. 



\ 



NOTES 

ILLUSTRATING THE 

HISTORY OF THE SPRINGS 

AND 

ADJACENT COUNTRY. 



(1) Thy glory lies viithin thy vales , that <wind 
Their course along thy centre, and abouKd 
With Mineral Springs, &c. 

The Couaty of Saratoga, commencing on 
the sonth, from the Mohawk river, at its 
junction with the Hudson, stretches along 
the west side of the latter river up to its 
northern branches. Through the centre of 
this County passes the Kayaderosseras creek, 
a large and never failing stream, emptying it- 
self into Saratoga lake, which again discharg- 
es its water?,by means of Fish Creek,into the 
Hudson. The Mineral Springs, li© in two 
valleys, formed by streams, which run into 
the Kayaderosseras. The first rallty is sit- 
uated in the town of Blilton, contiguous to 



> 



40 NO'^ES. 

the north bouadary of the town of Ballston, 
from which latter town, as having originally 
€oniprehen(le<J them, the Springs have re- 
ceived their came. This valley is 26 miles 
from Albany, about 10 miles due north frona 
the Mohawk, and about 12 miles west from 
the Hudson. It lies south of the Kayaderos- 
seras creek, into which, the stream passing 
through it, empties itself, a few rods below 
the Springs. It commences at the south- 
west, where the stream, which had previ- 
ously flowed towards the south, fetches a 
short compass round a point of land towards 
the north east, runs some distance in that 
direction, then turns and passes off towards 
the east. The valley follows the course of 
the Creek, is narrow at first ; but after it has 
taken an eastern direction, its north bank 
suddenly recedes, and forms a beautiful plain, 
opening to view the full flowing stream of 
the Kayaderosseras. The north-west side 
of the valley is bordered by sand hills, high 
and t6ry steep. At the south-west end 
commences a smooth and gentle rid^e of 
land, whieh rung east, eloping towards th® 



NOTES. 41 

^Qrth, until makiRg a gradual circuit, it 
turns its inclining surface towards the west. 
The termination of this slope is the curving 
bank of the valley, along its south-eastern 
side. 

In this valley several Springs are situ- 
ate. The Public Spring, which was first 
discovered, stands in the highwaj^ near the 
bend of the valley towards the east, and a- 
bout an hundred rods further down, is Low's 
Spring, on the private property of that gen- 
tleman. Until a recent change in one of 
them, these two Springs were very similar 
in their jqualities, being highly charged with 
carbonic acid gas, and containing large 
quantities of salt, magnesia, lime, and iron: 
but near tiie latter, is one of a different cha- 
ractci*, denominated from its peculiarity the 
Sulphur Spring. All these Springs are near 
the south-eastern bank of the vaiiey. Be- 
tween the Public and Low's S[)ring, on the 
other side of the creek, and within its bank?, 
are two S[»riag?, contiguous to each others 
siinilar, as to their general properties, to* 



42 



UOTIl^. 



those Springs, though more strongly irnpreg- 
BfiteU with some ingredients. 

The Springs in this valley have and«r- 
gone considerable changes, since their first 
discovery. "Where the Public Spring ig, 
there were formerly two, one of which, by 
the intermeddling of man, has since been 
Jpst, The one now reinainiag, was, when 
first discovered, a large, full fountain, rising 
to the surface of the ground, and running ©ff. 
A wooden curb hr.s since been sunk at the 
bottom, upon which is plaeed a marble one, 
end the ground raised about the Spring, 
which hath been ornamented by a hand- 
some iron railing, and marble plat-form, be- 
neath which the water discharges. 

About 20 years alter the discovery of the 
Public Spring, another was found on the 
properly of Mr. Low. This Spring ro&e 
at first in the middle of the creek, but in a 
fiood, the course of the stream was turned a 
Jiii'e farther north, leaving the spring just 
at the §outh edge, so that in high water it 
\^'as entirely covered, bnt m low wate? 



NOTES. 43 

could be approaclaed and used. The wa- 
ters of tbe creek were afterward diverted, 
by the proprietor, into a new channel, at a 
little distance, and by digging about, and 
endeavoring to enlarge the spring, it was so 
much injured as to become untit for drink- 
ing, though eaid to have been originally su- 
perior to the Public Spring. It is now used 
for bathing, being under the body of a house 
built for that purpose, and receiving by a 
conduit the waters that discharge from the 
two springs near by. In the middle of the 
creek, however, flowing in its new channel 
another spring suddenly burst out, with a 
loud noise, in a considerable column of wa- 
ter, which rose some distance above the sur- 
face of the creek, for about 48 hours, and 
then sunk to the level of the stream. Exer- 
tions v»ere made to put this spring in such a 
Btate that it could b« used, but without ef- 
fect. The creek has since been turned in- 
to a new channel, cut for that purpose, at a 
considerable distance, and the spring entire- 
ly lost. Biubsequejct to the explosion of 



44 ' NOTES» 

this spring, there appeared, at the distanee 
of about 2 rods, in the original bed of the 
creek, a moist spot, with bubbles of air fre- 
quently rising. Here Mr. Low dug down 
and placed a curb, inclosing by this means 
the spring, which now bears his name. 

The springs in highest estimation howev- 
er are of very recent origin. In the month 
of August, 1817, continual rains had swol- 
len the creek, which passes through the val- 
ley, to a great height, and produced a des- 
tructive flood. Near the Public Spring, the 
furious stream cut for itself a new course, and 
a few rods lower down, it again diverted a, 
little from its former channel, which, upon 
the subsiding of the water, was left dry. In 
this deserted channel, veins of mineral wa- 
ter were soon discovered, issuing up through 
the saEid, and forming, on the surface, a 
large fountain. As the water rose through 
a deep bed of loose gravel, blue clay, tiY\<\ 
quick sand, was foul, discoloured, and minsr- 
led with large quantities of (rfsh water; 
great difiTiCulties were apprehended in get- 



ticg it into a state proper for use. This, 
however, was happily accomplished, in a 
simple and ea^y manner. Two tubes were 
forced down to different deptlts, through 
which rose waters, differing considerably in 
their qualities, and constituting, in fact, tivo 
new springs. The first tube was sunk to the 
depth of fourteen feet, is on a level v\ith the 
surrounding earth, and not being perfecily 
tight at the top, never overSowa with water. 
The depth of the second tube, below the 
surface of the earth, is twenty three het^ 
and into it an additional tube, five feet long, 
has been inserted ; through the whole of 
which length, that is, twenty eight feet, the 
■water rises to the surface, boiling and spark- 
ling in the most curious and beautiful man- 
ner, and falling down in every direction o- 
ver the sides of the tube. These springs, 
especially the tatter, it has been proposed to 
call the Washington Fountain, and thej are 
commonly distinguished from each other by 
the descriptive appellations of the low and 
the hish tube. 



4Q NOTES. 

The following observations on the quali- 
ties of these waters are extracted from 
a letter, published in the New- York Eve- 
ning Poet, September 26, 1818, written by 
Doct. Mead, to the Editor of that paper. 

" I have found," saith he " that the Wash- 
ington fountain (meaning thereby the high 
tube,) contains more carbonic acid gas, than 
any other mineral spring which has ever 
been examined in this country, and certain- 
ly much more than any in Europe of which 
we have any correct account : — one quart 
of this water, or 55,750 cubic inches of it, 
contains nearly 76 cubic inches of this gas. 
The adjoining well does not contain any 
thing like the same quantity of gas. 

*' The next valuable qualities which these 
springs possess, arise from the quantity of 
iron which they contain, held in solution by 
the carbonic acid. According to my for- 
mer analysis of the Ballston and Saratoga 
waters, 1 never found any of them to con- 
tain more than one grain of iron in a quart, 
hut I think I may venture to state, from ac 



NOTES. 47 

tual expcritnents.that the Washington Foun- 
tain contains nearly double that quantity ; 
but the adjoining spring not quite so much. 

•' With respect to the saline contents of 
these springe, they do not differ materially 
in quality from those waters at Ballbton, the 
analysis of which I have given to the pub- 
lic. None of them contain sulphals; in this 
they differ from most mineral waters,- their 
cathartic properties, therefore, are derived 
principally from the muriate of soda, or com- 
mon salt, with which they are impregnated. 
The Washington fountain, however, con- 
tains less of this salt than any of the springs 
either at Ijallston or Saratoga, while the ad- 
joining spring contains much more than any 
of them, except the Congress spring. 

" The Washington Fountain is so highly 
charged with carbonic acid gas, and con- 
tains also so much iron, that it may be rank- 
ed in the first class of tonic remedies j but 
at the same time, it is one the use of which 
requires much caution. It possesses all the 
good qualities \?hicb are attributed either to 



43 " NOTES. 

tbe waters of the Seltzer or Pjrmont, and 
some of them ia a superior degree. It is 
superior to the Seltzer or Spa, in contain- 
ing iron, in which they are both deficient ; 
and it difTers materially from the Pj^rmont, 
2Q containing a sufficieat quantity of muriate 
of Soda, to act as a cooling febrifuge, and to 
counteract, in some degree, the heating and 
stiaiulating qualities of the other ingredi- 
ents, which, in some constitutions, would to- 
tally forbid the use of them. I have never 
as yet met with, nor have I heard of any wa- 
ter that so nearly resembles the waters of 
Germany, as the Washington Fountain. It 
may be drank with great advantage in all 
cases of general debility, where there h 
great relaxation ami loss of tone ; and par- 
ticularly in diseases of the stomach. 

" Of the adjoining spring, that is the low- 
tube. Doctor Mead remarks, that it *' has 
been found to possess very powerful purga- 
tive qualities, and may be considered as a 
sort of intermediate between the waters of 
Bajlston and Saratoga. It is evidently, e- 
vea to the taste, more saline than any of the 



NOTESI, 40- 

springs at Ballston, or than any, excepting 
one, at Saratoga ; and I have fou«d by a- 
nalysis, that it contains nearly one-fifth 
more of muriate of soda or common salt, than 
any other, except that one ; and besides, 
possesses in the same proportion, al! the 
other ingredients, such as carbonate 
of magnesia, carbonate of lime, and 
iron. It cannot therefore be doubted, 
thittt it becomes a very active purgative, 
sutEcienfly effectual to answer almost all 
useful purposes, particularly if drank under 
|)roj)er management, and with due precau- 
tion ; the neglect of which will not only 
prevent the Congress water from having 
Jhe desire d effect, but render too free a use 
of it liighly injurious to the s}^stem." 

Since these Springs broke out. Low's 
Spring ha3 undergone an essential altera- 
tion. It bus recently lost it pungency and 
agreeable taste, and become vapid aad nau- 
seous. 

The second valley lies 7 miles to the north, 
in the town of Saratoga Springs. At its com- 
mencement it consists of two branches, one 
♦Vom the south, the other from the westj 



50 NOTES. 

which soon uniting, run, as far as the princi- 
pal Springs are concerned, to the north-east. 
The valley is in the raidst of an extensive 
plain, spreading around in all directions, b«£ 
soon terminating towards the north in hilfe^ 
which gradually swell into monntains. 
Through it passes a stream of water, corning 
from the west, then turning to the north- 
east, and afterwards, in a south eastersj 
course, emptying itself finally into the Ka5^- 
liderosseras. In this vale are a number of 
Springs. Near the junction of the two 
branches is situated the Congress Spring, 
at the foot oi' a beautiful little cascade, for- 
med by the stream, which rises about Sftj 
rods to the west of the place. Westerly 
from the Congress about fifteen rods, and s, 
short distance from the south side of the 
brook, is the Columbian, about fifty rods to 
the gouth west of which, by the side of a rill 
of remarkably pure water, at present in th« 
bushes, is the Washington, elevated about 
twenty feet above the surface of the Con- 
gress. 

Proccpdicg from the Congress, in a north 



N0TE3. <^i 

east direction, about fifty rods, wg come to 
the HamiiloQ Spring, from which at the 
<!istance of ahout one hundred rods, aloDg 
the course of the book, is the Fiat Kock, in 
a northerly direction from whiclr, again, a- 
bout one hundred rods further, is the liigh 
Rock, beyon<I which are the President and 
t!ie Red bpriug. In the same valley, about 
one mile in an easterly direction from the 
High Rock, a number of springs have been 
discovered, within a, few years, called in 
general Taylor's Springs, being situated on 
land belonging to two brothers of that name. 
A new Spring has also been discovered the 
j)re3ent year, between the Hamilton and 
Plat Rock. 

Of all the springs in this valley, as well as 
of those in that of Ballston, the High Rock 
13 the most ancient. It was known and vis- 
ited at an early period, wiiiie the country 
was yet an entire wilderness. 

" The water of this Ibuntain is surrounded 
by a conical rock, which," says Doctor Steel, 
*'is, very justly, considered ihe greatest nat- 
ural curiosity which the country affords; its 



I 



52 KOTES. 

diameter, at the base, is between eight and 
nine feet, and its height between five and 
six ; at its top is a circular opening, nearly 
twelve inches in diameter, which graduailj 
widens as the rock enlarges, leaving its 
walis of nearly an equal thickness throngh- 
out. In this cavity the water rises to with- 
in two feet of the top, and is there seen con- 
stantly agitated by the incessant escape of 
carbonic gas, for which, the vacancy above 
the water, forms a capacious and secure re- 
servoir, where the curious are frequently en- 
tertained by its deleterious'effects on animal 
life." 

The springs next discovered in this vale 
were the Flat Rock, the President and the 
Red Spring, which are said to have been 
found about the year 1 784, Sc 85. 

The Congress Spring was discovered^ a- 
bout twenty seven years ago. It was first 
perceived issuing from a small aperture, in 
one of the rocks situated near the base of 
the little water-fall in the brook. This ro«k, 
however, was, by some accident, moved 
from its place, and the mineral strean* 



'^Ijereby lost. But not long after, an inhab- 
itant of the place, by the name of Putnpor, 
perceiviog bubbles of air to rise up thraii^,ti 
the water, in tl^e niiddie of the brook, turned 
the stream from its course, and having re- 
moved the earth, to the depth of aboai eight 
feet, discovered a strong niineraJ water, ri- 
sing from among the stones and gravel of 
the bottom, in numerous {daces. Preparing 
n conical box, and placing the widest end of 
it so as to include the greatest number of 
these little fountains, he replaced the eartli 
around if, and thus secnred tlie present Con- 
gress Sj)ring, to well known and highly cel- 
ebrated. 

Of these Mineral &>prings, genernHy, the 
natural ap;;earance is curious and pleasing.. 
Through the water of the Congress, the gas 
escapes in fine bubbles, and causes a sim- 
mering on tlie surface, tijiiilar to that which 
is exhibile<l by water just bclore it begins to 
buii violently. A similar descriplion would 
apply (o the water in the low tube of the 
Isew Sprijjg at Ballslon. In other springs, 
ihid gas bretJis up through the water in large 
e2 



54 NOTES. 

bwbbles, and causes a more violent agifa- 
Hon. In the ebuUitions of most, there are 
very short and irregular intervals; but in 
the high tube, at Bailston, there is con- 
stantly a smart boiling, without the least 
intermission. In the Red Spring, at Sara- 
toga, numerous particles of fine sand, of that 
colour, are seen floating in it when agitated, 
and in the low tube at Bailston, particles of 
a redish cast may also be observed. Gene- 
rally, however, the waters of these springs 

are remarkably clear and transparent . 

They have a pungent and agreeable taste, 
and possess a stimulating and refreshing 
quality. As powerful reniedies also in ma- 
ny cases of dii^ease, they are well known 
and highly celebrated. 

Beside the Springs in these two, there 
are in a valley between them, formed by 
the principal northern branch of the Kaya- 
derosseras, a good chalybeate spring, called 
Ellis', being on land belonging to a gentle- 
man of that name, and a strong scented sul- 
phur spring, which, licwever, have not as 
yet, attracted any general attention. The 



NOTES. 



55 



Quaker Springs, little known, are in the 
town of Stillwater, near a (Quaker meeting- 
Jioiise, abont 10 miles south east from Sara- 
toga. 

(2)Not George's saoed Lake, frequented erst. 
By superstition's children, to obtain 
For holy 'water, its pellucid luave, Cfc. 

Lake George is remarkable for the trans- 
parency of its waters. "It was called Lake 
Sacrament by the French, who, in former 
times, were at the pains to procure this wa- 
ter for sacramental uses in all their church- 
es in Canada : hence probably it derived ils 
name.*' 

Morse's Gazetteer, 

(Z) Hence 171 these vales, at places ivhere the Springs 
Break from the earth, i=i^o thriving villages 
Have risen, Ballston and Saratoga^ 

The name of Ballston, belongs strictly to 
a town about 5 miles square, t!ie north boun- 
dary of which embraces a part ofthevil' 
lage ; the principal portioa of which lies 



NOTES. 



^pwilhm the adjacent town ofMilfon. The 
^P proper name of Ihe village is BalUton Spa, 
pP by Avhich name it was incorporated in 1807, 
and put under the government of three 
trustees, annually chosen. This distinc- 
tion ought to be carefully observed by all 
who have occasion to correspond with visi- 
tants at these waters, a post office being es- 
tablished not only in the village, bat also at 
some distance, in the town of Ballston. 

The village of Ballston Spa lies within 
and along shle of the-ralley, in which rise 
the Mineral Springs. It contains 1 12 hous- 
es, exclusive of oul-houses, some of which 
being attached to taverns and large hotels 
are extensive and add considerably to the 
village. The number of inhabitants is 6 14. 
It ig a place of considerable business 
throughout the year; the lands in the neigh- 
borhood being generally fertile, and the trade 
of the inhabitants centering here. There 
are at present five large stores for the sale of 
dry goods and groceries, an extensive hard- 
ware and a druggist store, two printing offices 
arid a bookstore, with which is connected. 



for the nccopimodation of strangers, a circu- 
lating library aiul reading room. On the 
Kayaderosseras, mills for various purposes, 
with a cupola furnace, have been erected, af 
a Httle distance from and within sight of the 
village. The court-house for tlie county of 
Saratoga is located here, and is a large brick 

ediSce, newly erected and well built. . 

There are two houses for public worship, an 
academ}^ and in addition to several inns, 
three large boarding houses, expressly de- 
signed for the accommodation of strangers, 
at the season of general resort. 

The village of Saratoga, properly called 
Saratoga Springs, lies in the town of Sara- 
toga, according to its original boundaries, 
but by a recent division thereof, fails in 
the town of Saratoga Springs. The village 
is 12 miles from the river Hudson, on the 
west side of the valley, that contains the 
springs. It consists of two parts, the upper 
or old, and the lower or new village. These 
two taken together, are about the size of 
Ballstoa Spa, They contain one house for 
public worsbipj a number of stores and inns, 



Ip8 NOTES, 

three large boarding houses, a printing office 
and b0ok-s(ore, with a circulating library and 
reading room. A post olBce is established 
in the village, and another at some distance 
in the town oi' Saratoga. 

(4) The Indian •Lvild, rude naUire^s pupil tavght 
The heali7ig povoers of roots and herbs to kno\i\ 
Hoa'ming these ivooUs in guest of ^a7ne orj'oe. 
Or plants medicinal, observed, J ween. 
These bolUngJountams, Cfc. 

'* The Spring first discovered, was the 
High Rock; and the tradition of the Indians 
assures us that they were well acquainted 
with its medicinal qualities long before the 
country was explored by the Europeans. — 
Their attention was first attracted to the 
spot l:y the great quantity of game that fre- 
(■uented the place as a salt lick, and they be- 
lame more attached to it from a discovery 
ofti e efficacy of the water in the removal 
of rheumatism, and some other complaints 
to wliich they were subject. 

StcciS Jnalysis* 



NOTES. 69 

{S)From Hudson s stream, and Lakes Champlain 
and George^ 
To inhere Ontario rolls her sea-like i:ja'ues, 
Five nations oivii'd, co^ijed'raie, f^ercey and 
strong, ^I'C. (yc. 

Among these nalions a confederacy had 
subsisted from time ioamernorial. Subse- 
quent to the settlement of European Colo- 
nies, the Tuscaroraes, a people driven by 
the inhabitants of Carolina from the frontiers 
of Virgioia, were received into the confede- 
racy upon a presumption, derived from some 
sioiiiitude between their languages, that 
Ihe}'^ were origiaally of the same stock with 
the five nations. 

The rivers Hudson, St. Lnwrence, and 
Ohio, with the Lakes George, Champlain, 
jpnfario and Erie, may be considered as the 
general boundaries of their country, though 
in their greatest prosperity, their power ex- 
tended beyond these limits. " Our Indians, 
(says Smith in his History of NewYork)"u- 
niversally concur in the claim of all the 
lands, not sold to the English, from th® 



60 NOTES. 

mouth of Sorel river, on the south side of Ihc 
Lakes Erie and Ontario, on both sides of 
the Ohio, till it falls into the Mississippi; 
and on the north side of those Lakes, that 
whole territory between the Outawais river, 
and the Lake Huron, and even beyond the 
straights between that and Lake Erie." 

" When the Dutch began the settlement of 
this country, all the Indians on Long Island, 
and the northern shore of the sound, on the 
banks of Connecticut, Hudson's, Delaware., 
and Susquehanna rivers, were in sulijection 
to the five nations ; and within the memory 
©f persons now living, acknowledged it by 
the payraentof an annual tribute." *'A little 
tribe, settled at the sugar-loaf mountain, in 
Orange county, to this day,* make a yearly 
payment of about /20. to the Mohawks.-' 
*' All affairs which concern the general 
interest, are determined in a general assem- 
bly of the chiefs of each canton, usually 
held at Onondaga, the centre of their coun- 
try. Upon emergencies they act separately, 
but nothing can bind the league but the 
voice of the general Gonvention." 

* 1756. 



*" The French, upon the maxim, divide 
midimpera, have tried a!i possible means t© 
divide these republics, and sometimes hare 
even sown great jealousies among them. In 
consequence of this [)lan., they have seduced 
many families to withdraw to Canada, and 
there settled them in regular town?, under 
the command of a fort, and the tuition of 
Missionaries." 

" As to the History of the Five nations, 
before their acquaintance with the Europe- 
ans, it is wrapt up in the darkness of anti- 
quity, it is said that their first residence 
Tsas in the country about Montreal f and 
that the superior strength of the AdirontS- 
acks, whom the French call Algonquins, 
drove them into their present possessions, 
lying on the south side of the Mohawk's 
river, and the great Lake Ontario. To- 
wards the elofc-e of those disputes, which 
continued for a great series of yeare, th@ 
confederates gained advantages over the 
Adirondacks, and struck a general terro? 
into ail the other Indians. The tiurons oa 
Ihe north side of the Lake Erip, and the Q^t 



;i2 NOTES. 

Incrians on the south side, were totally con- 
quered and dispersed. The French, who 
settled in Canada in 1603, tooic umbrage at 
their success, and began a war with them, 
which had well nigh ruined the new colony. 
In Autumn 1665, Mr. Courcelles, the Gov- 
ernor, sent out a party against the Mohawks. 
Through ignorance of the country, and the 
want of snow-shoes, they were almost per- 
ished, when they fell in with Schenectady. 
And even there the Indians would have 
sacrificed them to their barbarous rage, had 
not Corlear, a Dutchman, interposed to 
protect them. Twenty light companies of 
foot, and the whole militia of Canada, mar- 
ched the next spring into the country of the 
Mohawks; but th.eir success was vastly un- 
equal to the charge and labor of such a te- 
dious m.arch of 700 mi'es, through an uncul- 
tivated desert ; for the Indians, on their ap- 
proach, retire 1 into the woods, leaving be- 
hind them some old sachems, who preferred 
death to life ; to glut the fury of their ene- 
mies. The emptiness of this parade on the 
one hand, and the Indian fearfulness of 



NOTES. 



fire arms on tlie other, brouglU about a peace 
in 1667, tvhich continued for se^e^aI years 
after. 

SmiiJC s History of N . York. 

(6)ThU Montreal .' thou caiistivttness. Thou didst 
feel 
The fury of these tribes, ivith idrath iifam^d, 
Jfdthinting for revenue. 

The invasion of Montreal was occasioned 
by the wicked artifices of an Indian Chief, 
Avho had solely in view his own interest 
and that of liis tribe. A war had been carri- 
ed on between the French and the Five na- 
tions, which both parties were willing; to 
terminate. A cessation of arms and mutnal 
re-delivery of prisoners was agreed upon, 
and near twelve hundred of the confede- 
rates attended a negotiation at Montreal, 
which residted in the ratification, in the field, 
of a treaty of peace. '"^ Kut a new rii|)ture 
i!ot long after ensued, from a cause entirely 
unsuspected. The Dinondadies had lately 
iaclinecl to the English trade at I'MessilimaUi' 
nac, and their alliance was therefore be- 




^4 NOTE'S. 

come iuspected by the French. Adaric, 
febeir chief, thought to regain the ancient 
confidence which had been reposed in bis 
couatrynaen, by a notable action against the 
Fi^e nations; and for that purpose put him- 
self at the head of one hundred men : noth- 
ing was more disagreeable to Idm than the 
prospectof peace between the French and 
confederates; for that event would not only 
render the amity of the Dinondadies useless, 
but give the French an opportunity of re- 
senting their late favorable conduct towards 
the English. Impressed with these genti- 
ments, out of affection to his country, he in- 
tercepted the ambassadors of the Fire na- 
tions, at one of the falls in Cadarackui river, 
killed some, and took others prisoners, tell- 
ing them that the French governor had in- 
formed him, that fifty Warriors ef the Five 
nations were coming that way. As the 
J3inondadies and confederates were then at 
war, the ambassadors were astonished at 
the perfidy of the French Governor, and 
could not help communicating the design of 
their journey. Adario,in prosecution of his 



NOIXS. (CJ 

craffy scheme, counterfeited the utmost dis- 
tress, anger and shame, on being made the 
ignominious tool of DeNonville's treachery, 
and addressing himself to Dekanesora, the 
principal ambassador, said to him, '* 2:0 my 
brethren, I untie your bonds, and send you 
home again, though our nations be at war. 
The French governor has made me commit 
£0 black an action that I shall never be easy 
after it, till the Five nations shall have ta- 
ken full revenge." This oufrage and in- 
dignity upon the rights of ambassadors, the 
truth of which they did not in the least 
doubt, animated the confederates to the 
keenest thirst after revenge ; and accor- 
dingly twelve hundred of their men on the 
2eth of July, 1688, landed on the seuth side 
of the Island of Montreal, while the French 
v^ere in perfect security ; burnt their houses, 
sacked their plantations, and put ta tke 
sword all the men, women and children, 
r?ithout the skirts of the town. A thousand 
French were slain in this invasion, and 
twenty-six carried into captivity and burnt 
alive. Many more were made prisoners in 
r2 



m' NOTES. 

another attack in October, and the lower 
part of the island wholly destroyed. Only 
three of the confederates were lost in all 
this scene of misery and desolation." 

*' Never before did Canada sustain such a 
heavy blow. The news of this attack on 
Montreal no sooner reached the garrison at 
the lake Ontario, than they set fire to the 
two barks, which they had built there, and 
abandoned the fort, leaving a match to twen- 
ty-eight barrels of powder, designed to blow 
up the works. The soldiers went down the 
river in such precipitation, that one of the 
battoes and her crew were all lost in shoo- 
ting a fall. The confederates in the mean 
time seized the fort, the powder and the 
stores; and of all the French allies, who 
were vastly numerous,only the Nepicirinians 
and Kikabous adhered to them in their ca- 
lamities, The Utawawas and seven other 
nations instantly made peace with the En- 
glish; and but for the uncommon sagacity 
and address of the sieur Perot, the western 
Indians would have murdered every French- 
man among them. Nor did the distresses 



NOTES. 67 

of the Canadians end here. Numerous 
scouts from the Five nations, continually 
infested their borders. The frequent de- 
predations that were made, prevented them 
from the cultivation of their fields, and a 
distressing famine raged through the whole 
country. Nothing but the ignorance of the 
Indians in the art of attacking fortified pla- 
ces, saved Canada from being now utterly 
cut off." 

Smith. 

(7)While thus incessant 'xar they fur io-ui vaag'dt 
With Gallia's province, friendship's bright chaiR 
Unbroken •was preserved, these tribes be:i-:eenf 
And thefrst settlers of our infant state y (ye. 

At an interview in Albany, between tb« 
Governor and the Indians, in Jene ICQl, 
tbey told him that their ancestors, as they 
had been informed, were greatly surprised at 
the arrival of the first ship in that country, 
and were curious to know what was its hug« 
belly. That they found christians in it, 
and one Jacques, with whom they made a 



63 NOTESo 

chain of friendship) which they had preserv- 
ed to that day. 

Smith, 

(^)E''en at their 'oery doors, up Hiidsoii's stream^ 
At Albany these strangers settled dovjn, 
And farther %\iest another Tillage built 
On that fair streairiythat bore the MoJia'-j:k''s r.avie. 

Albany and Schenectady were hui!t in 
the immediate neighborhood of the Mo- 
hawks. The castles of that tribe commen- 
ced at the mouth of the Schoharie cr«ek, 
■\vhich runs into the Mohawk river from the 
south, twenty one miles wesl of Schenecta- 
dy. Here Fort Hunter was built by the 
English. On the opposite side of the river, 
^ few miles farther up, 5ir William Johnson, 
not far from 60 years ago, etTected a setlie- 
ment, in a town which bears his name. — 
This gentleman was sole com.nfiissioner of 
Indian allairs, and, within nine months after 
the arrival of genera! Braddock, received 
?CJ 0,000 sterling to secure the Indian inter- 
est. 



(9) Alas f tJic Muse can tell of horrors dread. 
On the Schenectady / that sudden seized, &c. 

The destruction of Schenectady took 
place ill 1C30, hy a party sent out by the 
GoFernor of Canada, against the province of 
N.York, consisting of about 200 French and 
some Caghauaga Indians, who being prose- 
lytes from the Mohawks, were perfectly ac- 
quainted with the country. Pursuing the 
advice of the Indians, they resolved, instead 
of Albany, to surprise Schenectady. And 
tho' the people of (hat place had been in- 
formed of the designs of the enemy, yet 
were they in the greatest secarity ; "judging 
it impracticable for any men to march sev- 
eral hundred miles, in the depth of winter, 
through the snow, bearing their provisions 
on their backs " After a march hQwever 
of twenty-two days, they fell in with that 
devoted place, on the 8th of February; 
" and were reduced to such streights, that 
they had thoughts of surrendering them- 
selves prisoners of war. But their scouts, 
who were a day or two ia the village, en- 
tirely unsuspected, r«»turned with such ea- 



i 



l||t ?JOTES. 



€ourogii)g accounts of the absolule securilr 
of the people, that the enemy {letermined 
on the attack. They entered oh Saturday 
night about ele^^en o'clock, at t!ie gales, 
which were found UQshut ; and that every 
house might be invested at the same time, 
divided into small parties of six, or seven 
men. The inhabitants were in a [)rGfoi]nd 
sleep, and unalarmed, till their doors were 
broke open. Never were people in a more 
wretched eonsferuation. Before they were 
risen from their beds, the enemy entered 
their houses, and began the perpetrations of 
the most inhuman barbarities. No tongue, 
says Col. Schuyler, can express the cruel- 
ties that were committed. The whole vil- 
lage was instantly in a blaze. Women with 
child, ripjjed open, and their infants cast in- 
to the flames, or dashed against the posts of 
the doors. Sixty ^lersons perished in the 
massacre, and twenty-seven were carried 
into captivity. The rest fled naked to- 
wards Albany, through a deep snow which 
fell that very night, in a terrible storm ; and 
tvvenly-five of these fugitives, lost their 



NOTES. 71 

limbs in the flisrht, through the severity of 
the frost. The news of this dreadful trage- 
dy reached Albany' about break of day ; and 
universal dread seized the inhabitants of 
that city, the enemy being reported to be 
1400 strong. A party of horse was im- 
mediately dispatched to Schenectady, 
and a few Mohawks, then in the town, 
fearful of being intercepted, were with diffi- 
culty sent to apprize their own castles." 

*' The Mohawks w^ere unacquainted with 
this bloody scene, till two days after it hap- 
})ened ; our messengers being scarce able to 
travel through the great depth of snow. 
The enemy, in the mean time, pillaged the 
town of Schenectady till noon the next day ; 
and then went off with their plunder, and 
about forty of their best horses. The rest, 
with all the cattle they could find, lam 
slaughtered ia the streets." 

Smiths 



f 



(lQi)An lndls7i^ it is said, fqf those no doubt 

IVhotn French intrigues had Jrorn this eou-.^- 

try draivnj 
In earlier ■'vi^ars, a sick French captain led, 
To these rare fountains to regain his health,. 



" Sir William Johnson made this ob&er- 
yatiojFi, when be sold Ihis tract of land to 
.private individuals : *' in tracing the histoiy 
&i' th€£e Medicinal Spriegs, I conk! only 
kafm that an Indian chief tiiscovertd th^rn 
(0 a sick French oiScer in the early part of 
their war^ with the English. But whetht-i' 
they were the«e very Springs in this bason, 
or those a£ 10 miles dklante, properly call- 
©il Saratoga Springs, I know not. 

Morse's Gazetteer, 

In the year >767, the Saratoga springs 
trere visited by sir Winiam Johnson. To 
this he was induced by the recommendation 
of the Indians, who advised him to the use 
of those waters, as likely to aQ'ord relief from 
the gout, with whick he was occasionatij af- 
flicted. From Johnstown he caoie to Sche- 
2)cctady, from which place th?re was a rude 



NOTES. 73 

cart road to a settlement recently formed on 
the Ballston lake, by Michael McDonald 
and ills brother, beyond which, he himself 
caused a road to be cut through the wilder- 
ness. Along this aew and rough path, sir 
William proceeded in two waggons, con- 
taining himself, a few attendants, and am- 
ple stores of every kind. Leaving Sche- 
nectady, he tarried the first night at McDo- 
nald's, from whence he reached the Springs, 
and continuing ihere some time, returned 
iiome with imjiroved healih. 

This visit of so distinguished a gentlemaa 
contributed greatly to spread the knowledge 
of the Springs, and render them famouso 
Credible tradition informs us, that while the 
country was yet a wilderness, and no ac- 
commodations provided, people visited them, 
bringing their own provisions, and pitching 
tents to lodge in. This must have been the 
case, as the resort to them was undoubted- 
ly the cause of the first settlement made at 
the Springs. 



\ 



'^ IfOTtS. 

• (l.l)-4f length to cuhi'vation*s fiower btgan- 
The iui!der?7ess to yield, (yc. 

The first settlement, in thes?e part?, was* 
at Saratoga, on a fine {ra«t of low la!id, ly- 
ing on tlie west side of the Hudson river. 
The exact time, in wiiich this settlement 
was begun, I have not been able to a?cer- 
tain. it was however at an early period. 
In 1744, we find the Governor of the pro- 
vince informing the Assembly " That a de- 
tachtiient l\?ii\ been sent to Saratoga." It is 
also recorded that in the year 1745 " Colo- 
nel' Schnyler and Major Collins, who had 
been directed to build six l>Sock houses at 
Saratogri, were obliged to desist, on account 
of i he great numbers of the enemy's Indians, 
who were constantly on ihe watch, and cut- 
ling ofi' supplies and troops," am.1 also that 
on the IGth of November of the same year, 
"the country or settlements called Srrfaioga 
was almost literally depopulated. The In- 
dians had burnt the houses and fori, and 
committed many murders, pursuing their ao- 
©ient mode of warfare of scaipinfi those UQy 



soTts. 75 

rt>rtijnaie raen, women and cbildrea, whom 
tliey oa[)lure(l." 

Continuation cf Smith's History, 

At the close of the war, Saratoga w as re- 
r)eo[>!e(l, but bostiiitie? soon commencing a- 
gain, the -inhabitant?, in the year i 754, took 
refuge in Albany, an(i the settlement was 
abaudoned, until, upon the reduction of Ca- 
nada, peace was again estarlished. It was 
then resumed, and peaceably occupied, un- 
til the revolution plunged it with the rest of 
the country into fresh troubles. 

The townsbin of BaUstoii, origisailj' cal- 
led Bailiown, was principally settled during 
«ad after the j-ear 1770. Two brothers, it 
is I rue, of llie name of 3IcDona!d, IVora Ire- 
land, had in the year 17 03 settled do'.^n on 
the west bank of the Long lake, one of whom 
is still living on tlve same spot. They con- 
tinued however to be the only white fdmi- 
lies, in the place, till the year 1770, when 
the Rev. Mr. Ball, from the southern part 
«f the province, and one other family, cf the 
name of White, from Connecticut, moved ia 
&nd settled themselves down in the wilder- 



i 



) 



7^ IJOTES. 

negs. These were soon followed by others, 
SjO that in two years the number of families 
amcunted to about 20. Mr. Ball was en- 
couraged to settle in the place, by the pro- 
prietors of the land, who presented him with 
200 acres. He had the isonor of giving his 
name to the town, and officiated for many 
years, among the inhabitants, as a minister 
of the gospeL 

The first settlements were made at some 
distance from the Springs. The McDon- 
alds were 4 or 5 miles off, Mr. Ball about S^ 
while no settlement was made immediately 
at the Springs, tin some years afterward. 

In the mean lime, the B'lohawk tribe of 
Indians, who lived near by, frequently tra- 
versed this country, in their hunting excur- 
sions. The Saratoga lake was often visited 
by them also, for the purpose of fishings 
Coming down the river, in their bark ca- 
noes, to the mouth of the Eel-place creek, 
they proceeded up that stream as near as 
possible to the Ballston lake, iirto which 
liiey carried their canoes, over land. Pass- 
ing through that lake, and down the streassi 



that issues from it, as far as would answer 
their purpose, they again transported their 
caaoes over land into the Saratoga lake, and 
employed themselves in fishing. Tiie O- 
neidasalso were accustomed to visit this re- 
gion annually, in the moaths of October and 
November. They pitched their temporary 
habitations in various places, hut principal- 
ly about the Spring?, and employed them- 
selves ifj hunting till some time lo the month 
of February, when th^y retur-'ied home. 

To tlie first settlers of Ballston, the e:dst- 
ence f)f the Mineral Springs, in t'leir own 
town, uas not immediateiy knoivu. An el- 
derly gentleman who came into the place, 
in 1T72, informs me, that upon his first arri» 
val, though the Springs at Saratoga were 
much spoken of, yet he heard nothing of 
those at BallstoDj till the next year, when a 
gentleman,* an inhabitant of ihv. town, in- 

*Berlah Palmer, Esq. since dead. It appears that 

the discovery was actually made by some men in 

his employ. ArrWing opposite the Spring-, on the 

bill a littb to the south, they raa dowrij with tli£ 

g2* 



"^8 NOTES. 

formed hira, that he had accidentally dis- 
covered them, while engaged in surveying. 
They were not however much frequented 
till after the revohitionary war. 

{12) WJiof terror thrilVd the souly'xhen heard the 7i<?tr& 
Of neighbors sudden seized and captive led 
By savage foe, at tiight, or tory handr- 

The Six nations of Indians, who had al- 
trays been friendly to the inhabitants of 

vie\'r of slaking their thirst at the creek, when the 
Mineral fountain presented itself. The discovery 
was made 1771. William Bousman, a^ed 61, -who 
has resided at the south-west corner of Saratoga 
lake, from the age of 12 years, informs me, that 
the next year after his father came to that place, 
ie. 1771, he saw these Springs. An Indian named 
Harry, of the Tuscarora tribe, who tarried all that 
summer at his father's, coming home one night, 
from an hunting excursion, said he had discovered 
a spring of ytvy fine water, like that of Saratoga. 
The next day, he and the Indian, taking their gaus» 
went to the place, and saw, near the creek, the 
TSpring that /sow stands in the public highway. At 
the first discovery, it appears, there was but ona 
spring, though &fterwards another broke cut near 
fey, which has since been lost. 



NOTES. 79 

this state, espoused the cause of the King, 
except the Oneidas, who for their safety, as 
I have been inrormed, came down, and 
dwelt in the Beighborhood of Schenectady. 
The Mohawks, influenced by sir John John- 
son, the son of Sir William, abandoned the 
cttuntry and went off to Canada. Numer- 
ous hordes of savages were employed on the 
side of the British, wliose sudden incursions 
and inhuman cruelties were much dreaded 
by the frontier inhabitants. 

In the town of BaHston, several captivi- 
ties occurred. In the fall of 1 778. a party of 
whites and indians, came secretly into the 
town by night, entered the bouse of Colonel 
Gordon, took him prisoner, killed a man, by 
the name of Stove, who lived near by, then 
turning north up the main road, took every 
man they could find, to the number of 10 or 
12 and went off by the way of Lake Deso,- 
lation to Crown Point. 

The nest year, a number were taken by 
a noted British partisan, who had been an 
inhabitant of the town, and vras afterwards 
taken and hung as a spy. These, however, 



i 



^ 



S'O NOT'Eg. 

were all soon paroled, except one, and he, 
when the party had arrived at Lake Deriola- 
lion, etfected his escape. 

At another time, a gentleman, by the 
name of White, with some others living in 
the south-east part of the town, were seized 
by a bandof tories, and carried off to Canada. 

These, as also the first captives, were all 
detained in Canada, till the termination of 
the war, except Gordon, Whfte,and 5 wo oth- 
ers, who having been sent to Quebec, effec- 
ted their escape from that place, near tlie 
close of the war, and striking across the wil- 
derness, after incredible hardships, reached 
the settlements on the bay of Fundy. Be- 
fore this was done, Gordon's strength entire- 
ly failed, and he was left behind, but happi- 
ly his companions soon fell in with inhabi- 
tants, w ho went back, found, and brought him 
in. When these fugitives, who b.ad made 
such exertions to escape from captivity, ar- 
rip/ed at Boston, they found that hostilities 
had -ceased between the two countries. 



I50TE9. 81' 

{13) Such v:a3 thyjate laJitented Jane ! Ki^hof^ll 
By iiildyjerocious hands, &c. 

Jane McCrea, who?e mclanclio]}r fate is 
recorded iu the various liisfories of lbo?e 
times. Gen. Gates, in hU letter to General 
Burgoyne, thus speaks : " Mi=3 M'Fea, a 
jo'jng lady, lovely to the sight, of virtuous 
cliaracter and amiable disposition, engaged 
to an officer in your army, was^ witli otiier 
women and children, taken out of a iiouse 
Hear Fort Edward, carried into the uood?, 
and there murdered and mangled in a nio^t 
shocking manner- Two parents, with their 
six children, were all scalped and treated 
with the same inhumanity, while quietly re- 
siding in their onee liappy and peaceful 
dwellings. The miserable fate cf Miss M*- 
Rea was particularly aggravated by her be- 
ing dressed to receive her promised husband, 
w}i<^n she met her murderer employed by 
Tou. Upwards of one hundred men, women 
and cViildren, have perished by the hands of 
the rutlians. to whom it is asserted, you have 
pnid the price of blood." Gen- Bureoyne. 
HI hi5 reply, viadicated his own character; 



\ 



•^ NOTES. 

shewed that Miss MRea'y death was no pre- 
meditated barbarUy, and declared that eve- 
rj other charge exhibit*?d by Gen. Gates, 
was ill-founded and erroneous. Ccoper. 

My account of Mls5 McCrea's death, says 
Gordon, will differ, only circumstantially 
from Burgojne'a. Mr. Jones, h^r lover, 
anxious on her account, engaged some in- 
diaas of two differeat tribes to convey ber a- 
way from among the Americans for the pur* 
pose of security. He might fear for her on 
accouat of her Father's being interested in 
the royal cause, and of her attachment to 
himself. He promised to reward the person 
viho should bring her safe to bim with a bar- 
rel of rum. The two who took her and car- 
ried her to some didance, disputed who of 
ihera should convey her to Mr. Jones. Each 
vtfas anxious for the reward, and that the o- 
ther might not receive it, one ol them struck 
his toiuahawk into her skull and killed her. 
This, he adds in a note, is the substance ol" 
the relation given by Mrs. McNeil, who was 
in company with Miss MeCiea, when takeia 
by the indiaiis. 



NOTES. S<5 

The saggestion, iu this accouFit, respect- 
ing the father of Mi&s McCrea, is altogether 
incorreel. lie was a Clergyman ia the pro- 
vince of Nev;- Jersey, who died before the 
eommencementof the revolution. She had 
five brothers iu these parts, ail of whom ex- 
cept one, Vi'eie on the side of the coantty. 
One of them is still liviFisj in the town of 
Ballston. Mr. JoKes, to whom she was en- 
gaged, lived not far from Fort Edward, on 
the opposite side of the river, and under her 
brother Col. McCrea, who resided in that re- 
gion, had been a captain of the militia, but 
espousing the British cause, went off and 
joined the army of Burgoyne. 

(14)(9;jce ainl again thsyfovght, witll at last, 
J3ritain\- proud host submitted to cur ar^ns. 

The principal battles were fought at a 
place called Bemus' ffeights, S or 4 miles 
north of the village of Slilhvater,and 12 miles 
south of the old settiement of Saratoga. G. 
Kurgoyne had crossed the Hu^lson on the 
13th and 14th ofSeptember, 1777, at Sara- 
toga, and slowiy advancicg, encamptd oa 



b 



34 NOTES. 

the 18th about two miles from the army of 
Gen. Gates, which had taken possessioa of the 
aforesaid heights. On the next day, a 
movement was made by Burgoyne, with the 
view of taking an advantageous position, 
which being perceived by our army, and 
sfipposed to be intended for an attack, occa- 
sioned a severe, but undecisive battle.^ — — . 
" The theatre of action (says General Wil- 
kinson) was such, that although the com- 
battants changed ground a dozen times in 
the course of the day^ the contest termina- 
ted on the spot where it began. This may 
be explained in a few words. The British 
line v/as formed on an eminence in a thin 
pine wood, having before it Freeman's farm, 
an oblong field stretching from the centre 
towards its right, the ground in front sloping 
gently down to the verge ©f this field, which 
was bordered on the opposite side by a 
close wood ; the sanguinary scene lay in the 
cleared ground, between the eminence oc- 
cupied by the enemy and the wood just de- 
scribed ; the fire of our marksmen from thia 
wood was too deadly to bo withstood by the 



NOTES. 85 

enemy in line, and when they gave way and 
broke, our men rushing from their covert, 
pursued them to the eminence, where, hav- 
ing their Sanks protected, they rallied, and 
charging in turn drove us hack into the woccU 
from whence a dreadi'iil fire would again 
force them to fall back ; and in this manner 
tiid the battle fluctuate, like waves ef a stor- 
my sea, with alternate advantage for four 
hours without one moment's iatermission.— 
The British Artillery fell into our posses- 
sion at every charge, but we could neither 
turn the pieces upon the enemy, nor bring 
them off; the wood prevented the last, and 
the want of a raateh the first, as the linstock 
w-as invariably carried oiT, and the rapidity 
of the transitions did not allow us time to 
provide one. The slaughter of this brigade 
«;f artillerists was remarkable, the captain 
and thirty six men being killed or wounded, 
out of forty eight. It was truly a gallatit 
conC'ctj in which depth by familiarity lost 
his terrors, and certainly a drawn battle, a? 
night alone terminated it; the British army 
keeping its ground in the re?.r of the field ot 



i 



► 



S6 NOTES. 

action, and our corps, when they could no> 
longer dtstsnguish objects, retiring to Ih^ir 
own camp." 

A sfcond battle, equaHy ^angtrinarj, and 
more decisive, occurred on the Ttii of Octo- 
ber foilowing. This action has been repre- 
sented as having taken place at Saratoga, 
but from the Metisoirs of General WilkinsoH^ 
who was actively engaged in this, and also 
in the preceding: battle, it appears that both 
were fought in the same j>laee, before Bur- 
goyne had given ground at ail. It was 
brought on by the advance of a large party 
of the British array to a wheat field, which 
had not been cut, for the purpose of fora- 
ging. Being perceived by our army, they 
were so judiciously and vigorously attacked, 
that ia fifty-two minutes after the Srst shot 
was- fired,'' the v*ho!e line, commanded by 
Burgoyne in person, gave way and made a 
precipitate and disarilerSy retreat to his 
camp, leaving two twelve, and six six poun- 
ders on the field, with the loss of nore 
than 400 officers and men killed, wounded, 
and captured, and among them the .lower of 



8? 



|j Is officer?, viz. Bri^adior General Frazeri 
Major Acklaud commanding the genadiers. 
Sir Fraiu'is Clark, his first !ii<l-de-cam[>. 
Major V/illiattis commanding oflicer of the 
artillery, Captain Money, <lej>uty <]uarter- 
master general, p.ikI many others. The 
ground which had been occHpied by the 
Bntish grenadiers preaented a Gcene of 
complicated horror and exijifation. In the 
square space cf twelve or fifteen yards lay 
eighteen grenadiers in the agonies of death, 
and three officers proppeii up agpinst stumps 
of trees, two of them mortally wounded, 
bieediagi and almost speechless; what a 
spectacle for one whose bosom glowed with 
philaathrophy, and how vehement the im- 
pulse, which can excite men of sensibility 
to seek sQcli scenes of barbarism I*' 

The action was reKew<?d at the British 
camp, wi'ili great vi^gor and success. About 
sunset, the provinciali^^p, who occupied the 
ground between the Germans and the Brit- 
ish Hght-infantry, being gallantly atfacke^l 
fay a diviaion of our army, abandoned their 
|)OS)tion and fied ; " the Ger«ian flaak was 



I 



»8 ^OTES. 

hy Isris tneans uncovered ; (hey were as- 
saulted vigorously, overturned in five min- 
Uies, and retrealed in disorder, leaving their 
galiant commander, Lieutenant Colonel 
Breynian dead on the field. By dislodging 
this corps, the whole British encampment 
was laid open to us ; but the extreme dark- 
Bcss of the night, the fatigue of the men, 
and (he disorder incident to undisciplined 
troops after so desultory an action, put it 
out of our power, to improve the advantage ; 
and ra the course of the night General Bur- 
goyne broke up bis camp, and retired to 
hh original position, v/hich he had fortified, 
behind the great ravine,'* which fronted 
his encanipment on (he 18(h of September. 

In consequence of this battle, the British 
on I he night of (he 8th, broke up their caosp, 
and began their retreat ; the Americans, af- 
ter coiisislerable delay, pursued, until at Sar- 
atoga, on the 17th of October, the former 
surrendered to the latter, and piled their 
aims on the banks of the Hudson. 

* Wilkinson. 



NOTE?. fc^ 

(^iS)Im6osoni'd in the tvoods they found theonjirsti 
A little opening made and houses built, 
Few, s'lnall, and yude, O'C &c. 

From V/illiara Bousman, before referred 
to, 1 have received the foUowing informa- 
iio!}; that the same year iu which his father 
settled at Saratoga Lake, i. e. 1770, he, be- 
ing then 12 j^ears of age, went to the Sara- 
toga Spring, with one Dirck Schoughien, 
who came from the place isow caHed the 
Borough, near Waterford. This man put 
up a log house, the first huilding erected at 
that place, and he assisted him ia planting 
a small patch of potatoes. Schoughten con- 
tinued there about two years, and was suc- 
ceeded by Samuel Norton, who remiiined 
till *7 7, when he left the place, but returned 
again after the revolutionary war was over. 
In this early period, tlie resort to the spring 
was considerable, and many in their w^ay 
Ihithor jiassed by his father's house, who, the 
aextyear after the surrender of Burgoyue,o- 
|?ened a tavern. 

Not long after the establishment of peace, 
h2. 



1^ §0 KOTES. 

^M Alexander Bryant, cow residing at Sarato- 
^P ga Springs, caiiie, as he informs me, to tiiat 
K place, and opened a boarding house. A 
^^' small building, consisting ofone room be- 
low^ and one chamber above, which Norton 
had begun, be took and finished ; which, 
enlarged afterward by some additions, is yet 
to be seen about the Centre of the upper vil» 
lage. For some tiaie after his arrival, bis 
house was the only one kept, and was much 
thronged, more people oftentimes arriving 
than could in any comfortable way be accom- 
modated. The second or third summer, he 
had guests from a great distance, 2 from 
Canada, 2 from Kennebeck, and 3 from the 
West Indies, at one time. People from va- 
rious quarters resorted to the springs, com- 
ing in by the way of the old settlement of 
Saratoga on the river, between which and 
the springs there was only one house, while 
from Ballston there was no road except a 
foot path. At first, he was obliged to send 
horses, 5 miles, through the wilderness, for 
pasture, to a farm on which some improve- 
ments bad been made ; but in 3 or 4 years. 



N0TE3. 91 

be was able to provide himself with a suffi- 
ciency of pasture. Mr. Bryant kept, a 
boarding house about iS years, during 
which time, a niimher of other houses 
Forang up, and the upper village increased 
to something like its present size and ap- 
pearaace. And so great vras the difference 
between those times and these, that the 
ordinary price for board ^vasi2s. a week. 

The lower village commenced la conse- 
quence of the discovery of the Congress 
Spring, near which Mr. Putnam erected a 

large house of entertainment in 1803. 

Since that time a handsome village has 
sprung up, containing, beside good dwelling 
houses, stores, and ordinary inns, a large 
church, and several extensive boardiog 
bouses. Congress Hail, though begun some 
years before, was not fioisbed and opened 
tili 1 ol G, and a new house on a very esten- 
sive scale, ealied the Faviliion, has been fin- 
ished and opened the present jeasoa. 

The eownnencement of the Village at 
Ballston Springs may be dated about the 
year 1787. The township of Ballston: ly- 



S2 NOTEi. 

ing to the south of them, had been then set- 
tled 17 years, and the Springs known to (he 
inhabitants 16 years. Settlemeuls bad ear- 
ly advanced within a short distance of the 
Springs; but as the ohj^^ct of the inhabitants 
was agriculture, and the Springs lay in a 
low swampy piece of ground, surrounded by 
land, in those days altogether uninviting to 
the Farmer, as the Springs were not imme- 
diately known abroad,. like those of Sarato- 
ga, and the revolutiosiary war soon came 
on, no one was intJuced to settle himself 
dow^n on a spot destined to become so fa- 
mous in a little time. Bclore any good ac- 
eommodations were provided at that place, 
the centre of the town had hecon^e conside- 
rably improved. When, therefore, the wa- 
ters began to be frequented, some of the 
visitants would take lodginr:s at the distance 
of 2 or 8 miles, %viiii3 olhers broii<»;ht t!:eir 
own provisions, aail erected tents for them- 
selves at the Springs. 

At the time above mentioned a nan, by 
the a.\!ne of Douglass, purchased 100 acres 
of land, adjoining the Pii&Iio Spri»3g, on the 



NOTES. ffS 

)\ng in the pos- 
session of Nicholas Low, Esq. Douc^lass? 
then built a log house on the fiat cear thf 
Spring, in which he kept a tavern, and afford- 
ed to visitants, such accommodHtions os were 
in his power. A small framed house, con- 
taining 4 roonfis, he afterr,ards built, for the 
reception of people, who furnighed their 
own victuals. This bouse has since been 
moved back, and is now standing near Al- 
dridge's boarding house. Not far from thi* 
lime, Micajah Benedict opened a tavern 
and ta©k boarders, about 1 miie south from 
the Springs. In 1792, Douglass, erected, 
what v.'as then considered a large house, 40 
feet by 30, with the addition of a kitchen.- 
I'hat year, Mr. Low, also csused a house 
to be built, of the same dimensions, immjedi- 
ately contiguous to the Public Spring, on 
Ihe east, fn addition to these, Salmon 
Trjon built likewise, on the hiil south of 
(he Spring, a log house, to which he added 
a small frerned house, consisting cf 1 room 
and 1 bed room, and also a store, for the 
Fale of Ary goods and grocerie-s, with 



t 



94 NOTES* 

which V>u!!dings he was able to accommo- 
date a few boarders. These ediiicies, with 
2 or 3 log houses, to the east, were all the 
huiiiiings then e^iisting in what now consti- 
tutes the Village of Ballston Ppa. 

The liousesof Douglass and Low, though 
erected 1792, were not completed till the 
loext year, when Mr. Blerrill, now residing 
in the village, took the latter, while it was 
finishing. Neither house could do much, 
the first season. In 1794, Mr. Blcrrill hwilt 
on the Sat a little south of the Spring, a 
pinali framed house, which is y«t standing, 
for the purpose of letting it to visitants, 
who furnished their own provisions, which 
even rich i)eople were then accustomed to 
do. That season his hoarding house was 
well ril!e<5, guests arriving from New- York, 
Pliiladelphia, Hartford, Boston and eveji 
from the West Indies. This hous« after- 
wardr3 passed into the hands of two hrothers, 
by the name of ]M'Masfer, who built large 
additions, and did much business ; but upon 
their death, and the erection of other hous- 
fg. the business of this establishment declin- 



NOTES". 95 

ed, and a considerable part of the buildings 
have since been torn down, 

Not long after the completion of his house, 
Douglass sold it to Mr. Wescotf, upon whose 
dealh, it passed into the hands of ]\Ir. Al- 
dridge, v.ho made esfensive additions, and 
still k(:eps it with much j-uccess. 

In 1801, Stephen H. WSrite built an addi- 
tion to a small house, which had been erec- 
ted two years before; and the year follow- 
ing he built Ihe east, and in 1807 the west 
■wing of the Large Boarding-house, whkch, 
since his death, has been kept by his relict, 
for a number of years past. 

The spacious and elegant Hotel, called 
the Sans Souci, was erected in 1 803, by Mr. 
Low, and has ever since attracted the pub» 
tic atteatioii in the highest degree. 



PHILOSOPHY. 



1 

TiiEE, parent of light ! Philosophy, I half^ 
And tain would sing in humble verse thy 

praise ; 
O'er native ignorance thou dost prevail. 
The raiod enlarge aad 'hove low objects- 
raise. 
From the wild savage, thoa dost gradual 

forra 
The citizen imlustrioBS, and refin'd, 
And him again thy lessons oft transform 
into the stige of highly cultur'd mind : 
Tho dost exalt the human race, 
To aaaa imparting dignity aad grace. 



2 



Great nature's course, and iier unceaaiui^ 
laws, 
Thy power discloses unto mortal sTght; 
Thoae works amazing of the great First 



nilLOSOPHlS. »«' 

That strike the mind with wonder and de- 

light. 
Lighted by thee, the human soul 
Sees iium'rous worlds in order roll, 
And looks through boundleBs space ; 
She mafks the earth's revolving range, 
The day and night, the season's change^ 
And Luna's varying face. 

3 
The truth with error, loag the wise hat! 

mix'd, 
Long was the system of the world unknown. 
The earth supposed in centre firmly fix*d. 
While round her roH'd the planets and the 

sun ; 
Till thou arose and to the Samian sage 
The truth revcal'd, that truth profound and 

grand, 
Which wise Copernicus^ in later age, 
Deliver'd down to Newton's matchless 

hand : 
That on her axis earth doth constant move. 
Which, in their turns, produces day and 

night. 



98 PHILOSOPHY. 

That round the sun the planets ceaseless 

rove, 
■iProm bifD receiving genial warmth and 

light ; 
While as we roll, fix'd stars are shown. 
Bright suns, perhaps, for worlds unknouRv 

4 
What wonders are in nature found ! 
Seas roll their waves, yet knowthelrbound ; 
Earth's meads and groves, her hills and 

dales, 
By breezes fann'd, are swept by gales ; 
The sua shoots forth his wanning rays, 
Loud thunders roll, and lightings blaze, 
And darken'd clouds let fall the rain : 
All these thou view'st with piercing eye, 
This pleasing task thou dost sustain, 
To look through nature, and her works de* 

scry. 

5 

Nor matter only claims thy cares, 
Though, there vast wonders thou canst find ; 
But spirit thy attention shares, 
Thine eye surveys the human mind. 



J 



PHILOSOPHY. 99 

There things with things the reas'oing pow- 
er compares 
What's right or wrong, Tvhat's true or false 

declare?, 
Retentive memVy cal!? to present. view, 
Things which the mind in former moments 

knew, 
Creative fancy of|jer regions forms, 
SereBe and cloudless, undisturb'd by storms, 
Where gales r( fresh, smooth streams mean- 
dering flow, 
Gay vendure smiles, and flowers unfading 
glow. 

6 
What passions rule man's feeble breast ! 
We hope and fear, we love and hate, 
And eager still t' improve our state, 
In sueet contentment we do seldom rest. 
Av'ticeis eager still for more, 
Ambition grasps at greater power, 
Pleasure is urg'd by strong desire, 
Revenge and rage our angry bosoms fire. 
These tlormy passions thy mild chiding* 
still, 



100 rHfL©SOPHY. 

Meet objects thou do^t shew, their rage 

control, 
The reslless heart with calm contentment 

fill, 
And hush the tumults of the troubled souL 

7 
Nor here alone thy vgt'ries proTe ihy 

power, 
They feei thine aid in sorrow's weeping 

houp : 
And sorrow's weeping hour we often know. 
Disease, and pain, and care, and pressing 

woe. 
What most we prize we ne'er obtain, 
Or if some precious good we gain, 
'^Tis soon from our possession torn ; 
Death throws his shafts, our friends around, 
Like leaves in autumn; seek the ground, 
While we in keenest anguish mourn. 
Of former blessings we lament the loss, 
Hard poverty presents his hideous face. 
Our dearest hopes sad disappointments 

cross, 
And malice blots our names with foul dis- 

srace. 



PHILOSOPHY. 101 

These ills tbou mak'st us bear wilh manly 

strength, 
And suit ourselves unto our present state, 
New vigor gaining we do mount at length, 
And soar siiblime above the storms of- fate ,• 
And thongli perhaps our weakness drops a 

fear, 
Remaining comforts our sad bosoms cheer. 



Siacs such thy blessings, welcome to mj 

breast I 
Strengthen my mind to bear life's pressing 

woes, 
Hush my rude passions into quiet rest. 
And nature's wonders to mine eyes disclose. 
Yet not alone I call thee to wy heart, 
But as the band-maid of an higher power, 
For thou alone canst ne'er those hopes im- 

part. 
That gild with brightest rays life's partiiig; 

hour. 
And cold the comforts v^hich thy precepts 

yield. 

Under tjie pressure of grief's heavy load, 
i2 



i02 PKILOSOPHY. 



I Unless the>^'re drawn from those high truths. 

f revealed, 

■ And taught to man, in God's uaerring word. 
Descending from above, religion ! thou, 
In my frail bosom take the highest place, 
Add to my reason faith, and make me 

know 
God's holy law and purposes of grace ; 
Teach me submission, confidence and love^ 
And guide my feet to brighter realms above. 




IMMORTALITY 



1 

Awake my soul ! employ thy powersj 
On nobler themes tban earth contains ; 
To higher scenes my spirit soars, 
\^here beauty dwells, and glory reigns: 
No fiction vain, no airy dreanr^ 
immortal ages are my theme. 



Immortal ages ! glorious sound ! 
The subject vast who can conceive f 
When feeble man drops in the ground, 
Say, shall bis soul immortal lire ? 
Yes his soui immortal lives. 
And though his frame to dust he gives, 
The spirit pure, mounts up, on high ; 
And when the day decreed shall come. 
The sleeping dusS shall leave the tomb. 
To join the soul, and never more to die. 

*This Poem Is to be understood as having res- 
pect to tlie-iiTi mortality of the just only. 



i 



IP4 IMMORTALITY. 

3 
Nature abounds with objects grand, 
Th' exteotJed plain, the moiuitain high, 
The rolling sea, Ih' expanded sky, 
And orbs that move, aad orbs that stand. 
Grandeur and beauty here appear, 
The scene still changiug with the changing 

year, 
And none can tell the wisdom here display- 
ed. 
But all these things shall pass away, 
The sun ere long shall cease to shine, 
^'o more shall roll \]\e swelling sea, 
Fire shall consunie the earth with rage di- 
vine; 
la ruin vast all nature shall be laid. 

4 
But man survives the '^vreck of time^ 
And triumphs o'er the dismal waste, 
Bestin'd t' enjoy a life divine, 
And pleasure's purest streams to taste. 
For him new heavens in gsory rise, | 

And overspread by fairer skies, 
A better earth in verdure smiles | 



I MMORT ALIT Y. 1 0S 

There righteousness for ever reigns. 
No soul defil'd by sinful stain?, 
Temptation strong, co yielding heart be- 
guiles. 

5 
Uniting &11 in sweetest bands, 
<i!ows purest love in every breast, 
Benevolence the heart expands. 
They joy to see each other blest. 
No jarring passion's vengeful rage, 
In baleful strife their souls engage, 
Nor blood distains th' embattled ground ; 
But all is friendship, all is love, 
Ea^li bosom kindest passions move, 
And every gale wafts peace and joy around. 

6 
Those glories, which but feeble beam 
To mortals here below, 
In brightest lustre there are seen, 
And highest bliss bestow. 
The great, the everliving God, 
The Lamb, that shed his precious blood, 
Tkeir wisdom, justice, power, and love, 



106 IMMORTALITY. 

Their souls to highest rapture more, 
They strike the harp, and tune the soog, 
Increasing ^yonders still their strains pro- 
long. 

7 
Clear as the sun their knowledge shines. 
No doubts perplexing fill their minds, 
Nor prejudice their rCf^son blinds, 
Nor errors shade with light of truth com- 
bines. 
While here contracted was their view, 
They little saw* they little knew ; 
With clouds and darkaess round hira thrown, 
Mysterious seemM the ways of God ; 
Their perfect wisdom there is known. 
And ligbt 's diftus'd in copious flood. 
Thus darkness every ohject shades, 
By nijiht, and every beauty fades, 
But morning shews the risen sun, 
And beams of light thro' all the nations run. 



If blessings rich, and various, round hioi 
rise, 



IMMORTALITY. lOt 

Yet dia con ten ted, raari forever sighs. 

All present blessings spurns as worthless 

toys, 
And pants and reaches after distant joys. 
Besides, what real ills our life oppress I 
What pain ! what sickness ! sorrow and dis- 
tress ! 
How oft the bosom heaves with mournful 

sighs ! 
And tears of grief how oft bedim the eyes ! 
*' One scene of toil, of suff'ring, and of fate,'' 
A true description of our mortal state. 
But there abounds perpetual joy, 
All tears are wip*d from ev^ery eye, 
Nor cares oppress, no ills annoy, 
No groan is heard, nor raournfyl sigh ; 
But songs triumphant wake around, 
Ou golden harps of sweetest souad. 
Their rapl'roas joys they chant : 
O scene ! where brightest glories beaiH, 
O verdant trees ! O living stream ! 
What blissful pleasures do ye grant. 

9 
And when ten tfeoaeaod years are ^one. 



1:08 



IMMORTALITY. 



And countless ages roll'd aw ay, 

Yet still shall wear immortal blooar, 

These glorious scenes, and ne*er deca^^ 

Thrones shall be shaken, empires fall, 

Victorious ruin prostrate all 

The glories of the earth, and wide surrour^- 

ding sky ; 
These scenes no length of time destroys. 
The good man shares eternal joys, 
In glory and in bliss exaMed high. 



ERRATA. 

Page 19thj last line, ibr cloud-clapp'd read doud- 
sapfi'd. 

P. oOth, 9ih line, for Farther read Father. 

P- SJlh, 4th line from the bottom, for became 
read become. 

P. 51st. 4th line, for book read drook. 

P. 59lh, 7th 1. for Tuscaroraes read Tuscaroras. 



LbJL'2^1 



/ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





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